Refrigerating apparatus



0 7, 1931. F. w. ANDREWS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29. 1927 2Sheets-Sheet l anon L045 Oct. 27, 1931 F. w. ANDREWS REFR IGERATINGAPPARATUS Filjed 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A0 /7 0 9% )M/? w w 9 4/7 iwixgww gnmnto'c M M $114M Patented ct. 27, 1931 PATE FW. ANDREWS, OF FORTWAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MIESNE ASSIGN- MEETS, TO FRIG-IDAIRECORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGEBATING APPARATUSApplication filed December 29, 1927. Serial No. 243,439.

This invention relates to improvements in cooling units or refrigeratingelements for mechanical refrigerators.

An important feature of the invention consists in providing a coldproducing or refrigerating element whose length may be readily changedso as to make it suitable for cabinets of various sizes To this end theelement is constructed .of units or sections which may be suitablyconnected to produce an element of any desired length.

The improved element is particularly adapted for use in large commercialmechanically refrigerated cabinets of the display counter type for whichelements of various lengths are needed for different sizes of cabinets.By means of the present invention it is possible to dispense withkeeping in stock a variety of ready made refrigerating elements or withthe necessity of making special elements for a given cabinet since anysized element may be built up as desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a refrigeratinelement of rugged construction which wil readily withstand roughhandling both during shipping and installation as well as during use.-

A still further object is to provide an improved means for increasingthe radiating qualities of the element.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention 15 clearlyshown.

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows'a side view of the improved refrigerating element assembledfor use;

Fig. 2 illustrates a portion thereof in crosssection;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the element taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4- is a similar end view taken on line 4'l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 shows the refrigerating element mounted in a display counterrefrigerator; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the refrlgerator.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the refrigerating element comprisesa header 10 arranged to hold a quantity of refrigerant such as liquidsulphur dioxide. This header serves to distribute the refrigerant to theheat exchange sections connected thereto as hereinafter described. Therefrigerant is led to the header by means of a pipe 11 and is conductedaway therefrom above the liquid level in the header by a pipe 12. Asuitable float valve 13 shown in Fig. 2 is used to control'the flow ofrefrigerant to the header and to maintain a constant level of liquid 14in the header. The liquid in the header may be stratified and consist ofa layer of refrigerant upon which may float a layer of oil.

The heat exchange units or sections of the refrigerating elementcomprise sections 15 preferably made of cast iron and provided with heatexchange fins 16 which are preferably integrally cast with the body ofthe section. Each end of every section is provided with a flange. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention two diilerent types of flanges areused, one of which 17 is circular in crosssection and the other of which18 is preferably substantially triangular in cross-section. By thismeans the header 10 may be kept as a standard article of factory stockwith a round end wall or flange while at the same time permitting thecross-section of the unit or heat exchange portion of the element to bemade with a bore less than a true cylinder, thus economizing on thequantity of refrigerant needed as well as permitting the use of a lessmassive casting.

As shown in Fig. 2 the circular flange 17 of the section is bolted tothe circular end wall 9 of the header by means of bolts 19. Thenon-circular flange 18 is bolted to the correspondingly shaped flange18' the adioining section and so on until a complete refrigeratingelement is assembled as shown in Fig. 1. indicated by 17-17', 1818'.

After the sections are connected the open end of the last section isclosed by means of an end cap or cover plate 20. Suitable gasket-s, e.g. of lead or other yielding material are placed between the sections asat 21 to insure a tight seal. In the preferred embodi ment ofthe'invention the sections extend outwardly and longitudinally from theend of the header so as to produce a symmetrical structure. It isobvious that they may be cylindrical and of substantially the samecross-section as the exterior of the header but that in such a case alarge volume of refrigerant would be required. For this reason in thepreferred embodiment of the invention the bore of the sections issubstantially reduced and is preferably triangular in shape as shown inFigs. 3 and 4. This permits the stratified liquid to lie therein andpresent a relatively large surface with a relatively shallow depth, thusincreasing the eifiwise provided.

ciency of the refrigerating element. In such a case the lower portion ofthe radiating fins may be larger than the upper portion as shown in Fig.2, "while at the same time the overall diameter of the element ismaintained the same as the'diameter of the, header.

In operation the liquid in the header 10 consists of two stratas, alayer of refrigerant, such as liquid sulphur dioxide 8 and a layer ofoil 7 which floats upon the refrigerant and which is used in thecompressing apparatus for lubricating the same. This liquid distributesitself in a similar stratified manner along the bottom of the elongatedrefrigerating element and throughout its entire length. As the gaseousrefrigerant in the header is withdrawn by pipe 12 as above mentioned.the liquid refrigerant boils off from beneath the oil layer and iswithdrawn as a gas along with some of the oil. The evaporation of therefrigerant in the extended sections produces the desired refrigeratingeffeet. The process of boiling may cause the liquid to surge back andforth in waves through the extended section of the device and if thisaction is excessive it may result in liquid refrigerant, e. g. liquidsulphur dioxide being drawn into the suction tubes and returned to thecompressor in liquid form thus impairing the efficiency of the same. Toobviate this danger bafl'les 22 are spaced at intervals inside theelement to break up the waves and these baflles are preferably forconvenience interposed between the sections 15. These baflles extendabove the liquid level sufliciently to break any waves that may beformed. Holes 23 are provided in the baffles to permit flow of liquid tothe distant sections. These baffles are preferably made of lead and mayserve as gaskets between the flanges of the sections, in which case theyare cut to shape accordingly. It is apparent of course, that suchbaffles may even be cast integral with the inside of the sections orother-- Figs. 5 and 6 show the refrigerating element installed in arefrigerator cabinet of the display counter type. The cabinet is ofeases-a the type in which foodstufi's may be refrigerated while beingkept on display. It comprises essentially a structure having a food dispay compartment 30 and a storage or machine compartment 31. The front ofthe cabinet facing the customers may be glazed in the well-known manneras shown at 32 While the rear is provided with glazed doors 33. Thewalls 34, 35 are suitably heat insu lated as by corkboard or the likewhile an impervous lining 36 may be provided in the display compartment.

The refrigerating element is shown dis posed in a chilling compartmentor chamber 37 formed by the rear wall of the cabinet, a suitable baffleplate 38 and the bent-up por tion 39 of the lower lining 36. The bafiie38 is positioned so as to leave fines 40 and 41 for the circulation ofthe air cooled by the refrigerating element. Suitable brackets 42 may beused for supporting the header and such brackets are preferably madeadjustable as diagrammatically represented so that the element may bemaintained level in order to insure proper functioning thereof.

The header is connected to a compressor unit of the refrigeratingapparatus (not shown) which may be disposed in the machine compartment31 if desired.

The installation of the refrigerating element in such a display counteris a simple matter since it is merely necessary to connect as manysections to the header as is required by the length of the chillingchamber of the counter.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinetscomprising header means, tubular heat exchange members attached to saidheader means and extending longitudinally from said header and the samedirection therewith to form an elongated structure, the bore of saidmembers being substantially less and at a higher level than that of saidheader, said members being pro vided with fins terminating substantiallyat the lower horizontal plane of the header means.

2. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinetscomprising a relatively long and narrow chamber, means for maintaining apredetermined level of volatile tively long and narrow chamber built upof a plurality of sections, means for maintaining a predetermined levelof volatile liquid refrigerant in said chamber, baffle means betweensaid sections, said bafile means being adapted 'to prevent the formationof liquid waves in said chamber.

4. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinetscomprising a relatively long and narrow chamber, means for maintaining apredetermined level of volatile liquid refrigerant in said chamber andmeans for preventing the formation of liquid waves withinsaid chamber,said wave-preventing means comprising baffles adapted-substantially toprevent the formation of waves and to break up such waves when formed,said baffles being provided with perforations to permit unhindered flowof liquid to all parts of said chamber.

5. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinetscomprising a relatively long and narrow chamber built up of a pluralityof sections, means for maintaining a predetermined liquid level in saidchamber, gaskets between said sections, said gaskets extending into thechamber and being adapted to prevent the formation of liquid waves insaid chamber.

6. A relatively long, narrow, and symmetrically fashioned cooling unitfor mechanically refrigerated show cases or the like comprising, aplurality of elongated, hollow, and

horizontal sections having their open ends removably connected with oneanother, the opposite ends of such structure being closed to provide ahorizontally elongated refrigerant containing chamber, one of saidsections providing an enlarged chamber portion, means in said sectionfor providing refrigerant from rising above a certain level andvertically disposed cylindrical shaped fins formed integrally withanother of said sections.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my sig- FRANK W. ANDREWS.

nature.

